Go to page

purple haze

Hughes was probably the most improved player this season, for me. Came in the team, improved as time went on. He’s a competitor, goes in hard and he marks elite.
Many more players then had worst games then him. Unfortunately as a defender, he’s the one getting the blame - had a few brain fazes that happened at the wrong time

Yeah he reads the play well, especially when the ball is in the air. He's brave going back with the flight and he's a very good mark. Tough at ground level too - off the top of my head the two best hits I can remember all season came from him. And he knows how to consistently get his hands on the ball.

Plenty of upside to go with his downside of occasional brain fades and skill errors.

Igbo, as you say, was the difference in winning us the GF in 2013.
The kick to set up Mundy in 2015 against Richmond after Richmond kick in? Ibbo’s marking.
So there’s a place for Hughes. Besides I thought Blakely drop off was major, and he didn’t play as many games. Same for perhaps Cerra, who never got going.

You may not want to deal in hypotheticals (are we still allowed to quote Rossisms?) but it's an equally hypothetical dreamworld where none of our players bring weaknesses to the table. I still think Hughes' positives outweigh his negatives. I'll be interested to see how he progresses (or otherwise) under a new coach. He's just hit that 50 mark where your apprenticeship is considered over.

Premiership Player

You may not want to deal in hypotheticals (are we still allowed to quote Rossisms?) but it's an equally hypothetical dreamworld where none of our players bring weaknesses to the table. I still think Hughes' positives outweigh his negatives. I'll be interested to see how he progresses (or otherwise) under a new coach. He's just hit that 50 mark where your apprenticeship is considered over.

Premium Gold

Well yeah, yes and no.
Using your example, it’s fair to say Ed will never be able to do the pinpoint kicks Walters and the Hills do frequently. But he can definitely still improve his 30-40m kicks to a leading forward. Practice it 1000 times in the off season to make sure the height and trajectory of the ball is just right. Or learning to do better shot selection. Or learn to read play better to kick to advantage. Little improvement can go a long way. 3 less turnovers could be the difference and translate to an extra goal a game.

My point is that we don't have the raw talent in the team. Most of our list is cobbled together out the last 3 drafts (more than 3/4 of the list), not spread out over a decade plus of drafting and trading.

Rookie

I agree with Nat Fyfe that you could build a great side around our spine..if they stay on the park.
We could be alright next year if the players take to the new game plan. I would resist wholesale delistings as we may be surprised as to how struggling players can find a change of coach can give them a new lease of life.
Lets shed Sandi, Ballas, Kersten, Bennell and trade Langdon and Bhilly. That gives 6 new players onto the main list.

Crowden is an interesting one. Reckon he was on track for the scrap heap, may still be, but he finished the season doing his bit in the firsts. He's always going to be a bit of battler and a depth sort rather than lock 22, but he was fairly neat and tidy in the last few games, worked hard and put pressure on and bobbed up in good spots.

Last game wasn't great, but you know, the whole team looked washed up, but I've been turned around with him - you're right to put him in that category.

He was well and truly on my $hitlist because of some of his poor turnovers at the start of the season.
But once I realised what he offered with his leadership to a young team in rebuild lacking leaders, I was able to see more positives than negatives ... so a tick from me too.